Severe weather has battered the North Island, triggering catastrophic landslides and widespread flooding that have claimed lives and left communities reeling.

In the Bay of Plenty, a massive landslide buried a popular campground at the base of Mount Maunganui early yesterday, engulfing campervans and a shower block. Search and rescue teams continue working with heavy machinery; up to nine people remain missing, including a young girl. Two bodies have been recovered from a separate slip in Welcome Bay that destroyed a family home.

Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell described the situation as “deeply shattering,” with ongoing slip risks complicating recovery. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon called it a “profound tragedy,” likening parts of the east coast to a “war zone.”

Flooding has also caused chaos: a man is missing after his car was swept away near Warkworth, and states of emergency remain in Bay of Plenty, Coromandel, and Hauraki.

Thousands are without power, roads are closed, and evacuations continue.

Other incidents include a fatal e-scooter-train collision in Christchurch and a cyclist killed on SH2 near Dannevirke amid wet conditions.

Cleanup is underway as weather improves, but the recovery will be long and costly. The government has pledged support, while the nation mourns the lives lost and braces for what could be a challenging summer ahead.